Knights of the Dinner Table: Orcs at the Gates

Jolly Roger Games · Board game · 1998
— Ludopedia 5.7 BGG 2–5 · best 3, 4 60 min Weight 1.5/5
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— rating Ludopedia
5.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you love comic‑book humor and bashing orcs, this one’s for you.

Highlights
  • Irreverent humor
  • Fast combat
  • Fun exploration
Keep in mind
  • Cards not fully translated
  • Light‑moderate complexity
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Knights of the Dinner Table: Orcs at the Gates lands on the tabletop as the wildest incarnation of the HACKMASTER™ universe. Designed by Jim Dietz and based on the comic strips of Knights of the Dinner Table, the game pits up to five heroes against swarms of ravenous orcs. A typical session lasts about an hour, and the rules are straightforward: move your miniatures across a grid, clash with enemies, and try to survive the chaos. The main components are character and monster miniatures, plus cards that grant powers, weapons and combat effects. The complexity is light‑moderate, ideal for players familiar with board games who still want something quick and humor‑filled. The cards aren’t fully translated, so having a translation sheet handy helps. The experience feels like a tabletop RPG but with the speed of a board game: you’ll feel the tension of battles, the rush of exploring unknown zones, and the tongue‑in‑cheek tone of the comics. If you love fantasy, intense fights, and a dash of irreverent humor, you’ll have a blast. Don’t expect deep strategic depth of a heavyweight title; the focus is on thematic fun and the showdown with orcs. In short, it blends action, exploration, and comic‑book flair into a short, noisy, laugh‑filled session.

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–5 players
2 BEST
3 BEST
4 BEST
5 REC

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Creatures: Orcs
Publisher Jolly Roger Games
Designer Jim Dietz
Artist Elmore Vallejo, FSpace Productions, Jolly R. Blackburn, Steve Bryant

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

321owners
15wishlist
10want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can join?
2 to 5 players.
How long does a game last?
Approximately 60 minutes.
What is the complexity level?
Light to moderate, easy to pick up.
Do I need any extra material?
A translation sheet for the cards is recommended, as they aren't fully in English.
What are the main components?
Character and orc miniatures, a grid board, action cards, and reference tokens.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, as long as the group is comfortable with basic movement and combat rules.
Are there expansions available?
No official expansions have been released for this game.

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